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How to position your website for a Buyer's market

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with VAProfessionals

Ok, so assuming your sales area is heading into a more favorable market for buyers, what can you do to make your internet presence more marketable to buyers?

For many of our clients, we constantly have to remind them that "Listings, Listings, Listings!" is what folks are wanting to see on your website!

So, what do you do if you don't have many of your own? How do you get more listings on your site? There are many ways to approach this issue...

1) If you can manually load listings on your website -- ask other members of your brokerage if you can place their listings on your website. It's a win/win situation. More marketing to reach more buyers! Many agents feel threatened by this request, when in actual fact, they don't stand to lose anything by increasing the market view of their listing.

2) Make sure you have an IDX solution for your website, and make sure you are leveraging it to its maximum. An IDX will allow you to show all the listings in your MLS, allowing a visitor to view many listings on your site.

There are also some creative ways to make use of your IDX, if it allows.

 More on all this later!

Kimberly Grant
Exit Leon Crawford Realty - Huntsville, AL
Real Estate Agent - Huntsville Alabama

Good suggestions.  I actually do both on my website and have had good success so far from it.

Dec 17, 2007 09:57 AM
Natalie Langford
Realty Negotiations - Winchester, VA
Winchester, VA Real Estate
This is great.  I hadn't thought to add other listings from my fellow brokerage mates...Thank you for sharing!
Dec 17, 2007 10:01 AM
Todd Jones
Weichert Realtors - Hibble & Associates - Clarks Summit, PA
Thanks for the information. I am in the process of setting up a website for the new year and these are good points to keep in mind.
Dec 17, 2007 10:13 AM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

I have an IDX through my site... but here is a question:

Since everyone is pursuing buyers, would this not be a GREAT time to zag, and start looking for good sellers?  Well priced listings are going to sell... 

Dec 17, 2007 10:14 AM
Dorothy Hall
VAProfessionals - Lihue, HI

Yes, Lane, definitely don't want to forget the Sellers!

Some of the current strategies I'm implementing for clients on their sites for the seller side include Certified home programs ....

Dec 17, 2007 10:19 AM
Kim Wilbourn
Kim Wilbourn Realty - Scottsboro, AL
Your Local Alabama REALTOR
I have recently started doing this. Don't know how good it works yet. Thanks for the post.
Dec 17, 2007 10:21 AM
Brad Whiteman
Coldwell Banker - New Haven, CT
Brad Whiteman

How are we different from everyone else out there? What is that we are offering our clients? If a website is "content" driven" and target markets...then the people who are looking to buy and sell in that target will start being atrratected to the site....if you market to that target...your website....whew!

Dec 17, 2007 10:23 AM
Josh Austin
Corona Real Estate - Star, ID
I am a new Realtor and am in the middle of creating a website.  Your comments are helpful.  Quick question: What is an IDX solution?  Is it the link to the MLS?  Also, can you setup this link to show only your contact information instead of the listing agents info?  I am adding other things like a foreclosure section, and a FSBO section.  Any other must haves?  Thanks.
Dec 17, 2007 10:31 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Dorothy, we also in our office work at co-marketing other agents listings on our sites.
Dec 19, 2007 02:20 AM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
Dorothy - IDX is important to have on your website. I also like to discuss properties I've shown or previewed. Ira Serkes does a great job of visiting all the listings in his area and rating them 1-5 Paws.
Dec 20, 2007 10:53 AM